Adapter unit for interconnecting bedframes and head and footboards

ABSTRACT

An adapter unit in the form of a slotted bracket for attachment to a bedframe in a horizontally and vertically adjusted position with upwardly projecting hooks thereon for engagement under the conventionally provided pins on a headboard and with cooperating bearing surfaces to stabilize and rigidify the engagement. The adapter unit is constructed for mounting selectively at either side of the bedframe for various-size bedding and is capable of adapting to the varying widths of headboards.

United States Patent Fredman 1 5] Feb. 29, 1972 154] ADAPTER UNIT FOR INTERCONNECTING BEDFRAMES AND HEAD AND FOOTBOARDS [72] Inventor: Harry Fredman, 908 South Washington $1., Peoria, 111. 61611 22 Filed: Jan. 15,1969

21] Appl.No.: 791,241

[52] US. Cl ..5/296, 5/131 [51] Int. Cl ..A47c 19/02 [58] Field of Search ..5/288,296, 294,297, 131,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,845,636 8/1958 Iaquinta et a1. ..5/296 X 2,784,421 3/1957 Fredman ..5/131 2,745,116 5/1956 Jackson ..5/l3l 2,311,111 2/1943 Kelly ..5/l3l OTHER PUBLICATIONS Merit Industries, Inc., of Brooklyn, New York, Bed Furniture Hardware Catalog.

Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Peter A. Aschenbrenner Attorney-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacobson [5 7] ABSTRACT An adapter unit in the form of a slotted bracket for attachment to a bedframe in a horizontally and vertically adjusted position with upwardly projecting hooks thereon for engagement under the conventionally provided pins on a headboard and with cooperating bearing surfaces to stabilize and rigidify the engagement. The adapter unit is constructed for mounting selectively at either side of the bedframe for various-size bedding and is capable of adapting to the varying widths of headboards.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented Feb. 29, 1972 2 SheetsSheet l Fig.5

Harry Fredman l N V liNTOR WWW 8m Patented Feb. 29., 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Harry F redm an IN V/z'N'IOK.

WWW 15? M ADAPTER UNIT FOR INTERCONNECTING BEDFRAMES AND HEAD AND FOOTBOARDS This invention relates to a device for mounting an endboard, such as a headboard, on a bedframe structure, such as a metal, four-legged bedframe. More particularly, this invention involves a rigid device which permits a headboard to be mounted on the mounting plates of a metal, four-legged bedframe irrespective of variations in the width of the bedding or variations in the distance between the slots on the headboard.

Conventional metal bedframes are self-supporting structures provided with supporting legs usually having casters at the lower end thereof which rest on the floor for support. The bedding or box spring is supported directly on the frame and the frame is laterally adjustable to fit snugly to the width of the box spring. For reasons known to those skilled in the art, an endboard or headboard is normally mounted to and supported by the frame at the head portion thereof. To accomplish the mounting of the headboard on the frame, the ends of the frame have mounting plates with apertures therein for receiving bolts which in turn pass through holes drilled in the post of the headboard for the mounting thereof.

Under the most desirable circumstances, it has heretofore been necessary when assembling the headboard to the bedframe to drill holes in the endpost of the headboard so that they align with the holes in the mounting plate. This not only creates significant delays in assembly of the bed structure in order to align and drill proper holes, etc., but also has caused a dangerous protrusion at the back of headboard as the bolt extends out of the rear of the end post resulting in considerable damage to the wall or baseboard where the bed stands.

Moreover, due to variations in the width of the box spring and variations in the distance between the endposts of the headboard, it frequently occurs that the headboard does not properly align within the mounting plates on the bedframe when properly supporting the box spring. Indeed, the mounting plates are frequently disposed so far inwardly or outwardly as to orient the plates where it is impossible to attach them to the headboard. Under such circumstances, those skilled in the art have utilized an attaching bracket, strap or other mounting means on the headboard in order to secure the headboard to the mounting plate of the bedframe. However, the conventional attaching brackets have necessarily had to utilize bolts to mount the bracket to the headboard and, as such, have not overcome the basic problems. Another method utilizes a bed hook, which fits over the pins of the bed leg, the hooks being in a downwardly position and the mounting plate of the bed frame is attached to the bed hook. This hook has the obvious disadvantage of not lifting the headboard off the floor and the headboard must be dragged on the floor where the bedframe is moved for any reason. This causes the headboard to loosen, shake and run the risk of splitting the legs.

Further, my prior US. Pat. No. 2,784,421 issued Mar. 12, 1953 discloses a structure by which a headboard or footboard is supported from the bedframe and is lifted off the floor by employing upwardly facing hooks vertically adjustably attached to the bedframe and this invention represents improvements in such structures.

The principal object of the present invention is to overcome all disadvantages encountered with prior attempts to mount headboards on bedframes by utilizing an adapter plate having upwardly extending hooks onto which can be engaged the conventional support pins in the vertical slots of the endpost of the headboard combined with spaced bearing surfaces rigidly engaging the endboard thereby providing a stabilized assembly of the bedframe and the headboard whereby the headboard is lifted off the floor without the necessity of inserting bolts or screws into the headboard.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an adapter unit which has a pair of hooks facing upward and is attachable to a conventional end plate on a metal, four-legged bedframe for adjustment laterally of the bedframe and for adjustment vertically of the headboard to the bedframe in order to orient the upwardly opening hooks in the desired position for properly engaging and carrying the headboard above the floor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an adapter unit generally in the form of a plate having the peripheral edges thereof laterally deformed into flanges having surfaces oriented in a common vertical plane to engage the facing surface of a headboard to stabilize the headboard in relation to the mounting plate and retain the position of the headboard in perpendicular relation to the bedframe.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a bracket or adapter unit in which the flange surfaces engaging the surface of the headboard are disposed both vertically above and below the attaching hooks and to both lateral sides of the attaching hooks for effectively stabilizing the headboard in relation to the bedframe.

Still another important object of this invention is to provide an adapter unit for interconnecting a bedframe and a headboard which is relatively simple in construction, easy to install, effective in firmly and detachably supporting a headboard on a bedframe above the floor for easy mobility and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages will become subsequently apparent as the details of construction and operation of a preferred embodiment of the invention are more fully hereinafter described.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout:

FIG. 1 is an exploded group perspective view illustrating the adapter unit of the present invention in its relationship to a headboard and metal bedframe having an attaching plate on the end thereof;

FIG. 2 is an exploded group perspective view illustrating the adapter unit attachment to the metal bedframe and illustrating the manner in which it is associated with a headboard with the bedframe is adjusted to .a width greater than the width between the attaching slots and pins on the headboard;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the attaching unit illustrating the structural features thereof and the manner of connection with the mounting plate on the bedframe;

P10. 4 is a transverse, sectional view illustrating the orientation of the adapter unit when associated with a bedframe which is wider than the lateral dimension between the attaching pins on a headboard; and

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view similar to FlG. 4 but with the left and right hand adapter units switched for enabling a bedframe adjusted to a position of a lateral width less than the width between the attaching pins on the headboard to be connected to such a headboard.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the preferred form of the adapter unit of the present invention is generally designated by the numeral 10 for interconnecting a conventional metal bedframe generally designated by the numeral 12 and a conventional headboard generally designated in the drawings by the numeral 14. The headboard includes vertical end posts or components 16 and laterally interconnecting intermediate components 18 which may be separate panels, solid panels or of any other decorative configuration. Adjacent each side edge of the headboard 14, the side structural component or end post 16 is provided with a vertical slot 20 having a pair of transversely extending attaching pins 22 extending across the slot 20 inwardly of the free edge thereof by which the headboard 14 may be attached to the bedframe 12. The construction of the slot 20 and the pins is conventional in various bed structures and operates in a manner well known in the art.

The metal bedframe 12 includes siderails 24 from laterally extending end rails or interconnecting rails 26 from which depending supporting legs 28 are pivotally provided to support the bedframe. A metal bedframe conventionally has four supporting legs (only one is shown in the drawings). The legs 28 have a caster wheel 30 at the lower end thereof. The interconnecting rail 26 is longitudinally adjustable in order to vary the width between the siderails 24. The siderails 24 are of angle iron construction and the vertical flanges thereof are brought into snug contact with the side surfaces of the box spring or bedsprings (not shown) by adjusting the effective length of the transverse end rail 26. The horizontal flange of the siderails 24, therefore, extend fully under the box spring or bedsprings. The end rails 26 are also separable so that the pivotal connection with the rails 24 enables the bedframe to be shipped and stored in a knocked-down condition all of which represents a conventional procedure in bedfrarnes of this type.

Secured to the vertical flange of the siderail 24 is mounting plate 32 which is provided with a flange 34 along one edge thereof. The flange 34 is secured to the vertical flange of the siderail 24 by rivets 36 or other conventional fastener structures. The face 35 of the mounting plate 32 is generally rectangular in configuration, is perpendicular to the siderails 24, and is disposed in a vertical plane when the bedframe 12 is oriented in its normal position, such as resting on a floor. The mounting plate 32 includes a pair of transversely extending and vertically spaced parallel slots 38 therein which heretofore have been normally employed for attaching the mounting plate 32 directly to the headboard.

So far, the headboard 14 and the bedframe 12 with mounting plates 32 are conventional structures well known to the art. The adapter unit of the present invention is intended to be attached to the mounting plate 32 and forms a connection between the mounting plate 32 and the headboard 14.

The adapter unit 10 is preferably of a one-piece, stamped metal construction having a substantially flat plate 40 or rectangular configuration with the long axis thereof being disposed vertically. Formed in the plate 40 is a plurality of transversely extending vertically spaced slots 42 which are parallel with each otherand are spaced apart a distance approximately one-half the distance between the slots 38 in the mounting plate 32 of the conventional Hollywood bedframe 12 so that increments of adjustment of the adapter unit 10 vertically in relation to the mounting plate 32 will be one-half of the distance between the slots 38. Such small adjustments will permit the headboard 14 to be supported adjacent to but slightly above the floor surface. The adapter unit 10 is attached to the mounting plate 32 by means of a pair of screwthreaded fasteners 72 which project through slots 38 and selective slots 42.

Provided along one side edge of the plate 40 is a laterally extending flange which is divided into a lower flange 58 and an upper flange 60 separated by a recess 62. The upper flange 60 is formed into an aligned pair of vertically spaced hooks 66. The plane of the hooks 66 is perpendicular to the plane of plate 40. The hooks 66 include cam surface 68 inclining downwardly and inwardly from the upper apex of each hook designated by the numeral 70. The thickness of the hooks is such that they may be snugly inserted in the slot of conventional headboards and are so spaced that the hooks 66 engage the pins within the slot 20. The lower flange 58 terminates in a laterally extended vertical flange 64 which is parallel to the plate 40 but inwardly offset therefrom for engaging the surface of the headpost 16 below and slightly to the side of slot 20.

The upper edge of the plate 40 is provided with an inturned flange 44 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) terminating in a laterally outturned flange 46 which is parallel to the plate 40 but inwardly offset therefrom for engaging the surface of the headboard post 16 at the upper end of the plate 40. The flange 46 includes a lateral extension 48 at one end thereof which extends beyond the corresponding side edge of the plate 40. The opposite end or bottom edge of the plate 40 is provided with an inwardly extending flange 50 terminating in a laterally downwardly extending flange 52 parallel to but inwardly offset from the plate 40.

The flanges 46, 52 and 64 lie in the same vertical plane. As such, these flanges provide cooperating bearing surfaces on the adapter unit 10 which engage the surface of the endboard post 16 at positions spaced vertically above and below and horizontally on each side of the engagement between the hooks 66 and the pins 22 in the slot 20 of the headboard. The bearing surfaces of flanges 46 and 52 engage the endpost above and below the slot 20, respectively. The bearing surfaces of the lateral extension 48 and flange 64 engage the endpost on one side of the slot, and the surfaces on the major portion of flange 46 and the entire portion of flange 52 engage the endpost on the other side of the slot.

Accordingly, it will be apparent that when the hooks 66 are inserted into the slot 22 and a downward force is exerted on the headboard 14, the pins 22 engage the cam surfaces 68. The caming action of the pins on the surface 68 will cause the headboard to move toward plate 40 bringing into engagement the surface of the endpost 16 with the bearing surfaces of flanges 46, 52 and 64. This contact of the endpost with these bearing surfaces of the adapter unit 10 in cooperation with the engagement of the hooks 66 on pins 22 will firm and rigidify the mounting of the headboard 14 on the adapter unit 10 and thereby permit the headboard 14 to be securely attached to the metal frame.

The remaining side edge of the plate 40 is provided with a laterally inwardly extending flange 54 which terminates in a free edge 56 (see FIG. 5). Since edge 56 is in the same plane as the bearing surfaces of flanges 46, 52 and 64, it may engage the headboard laterally of the attaching pins in the event the headboard has a relatively wide surface area adjacent the slot 20. However, the flange 54 serves principally to structurally rigidify the plate 40.

The horizontal slots 42 in the plate 40 not only permit vertical adjustment of the adapter unit 10 but also horizontal adjustment thereof which is accomplished by the pair of screwthreaded fasteners 72 having the headed ends thereof slotted as at 74 or otherwise formed for engagement by a suitable tool, such as a screwdriver or the like, with the headed end thereof disposed against the inner surface of the mounting plate 32. Internally threaded nuts 76 engage the threaded fasteners 72 which extend through the slots 38 and selective slots 42 so that by tightening and loosening the fastener assemblies formed by the threaded fasteners 72 and the nut 76, the adapter unit 10 may be moved laterally of the mounting plate 32 wherein the dimensional limits of the slots 42 and slots 38. As illustrated, the inner edges of the nuts 76 are provided with parallel notches or recesses 78 which fit into the slots 42 to prevent rotation of the nuts 76 thereby enabling the fasteners 72 to be tightened or loosened by the use of only a single tool such as a screwdriver or the like whereby simplifying installation and adjustment of the adapter unit 10.

When the metal bedframe 12 has been adjusted so that the side rails 24 thereof snugly fit the bedding such as the bedspring unit, the adapter unit 10 which has been attached to the mounting bracket 32 is adjusted laterally while the screws 72 are loosened until the hooks 66 are engaged with the pins 22 at which time the fasteners 72 may be tightened. If the bedframe 24 is adjusted in such a manner that the mounting plates 32 are spaced apart a distance greater than the lateral distance between the slots 20, the adapter unit is oriented with the hooks 66 at the inner edge thereof as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 with the offset permitted by the adapter unit being illustrated in FIG. 4. However, if the opposite situation exists, that is the siderails 24 of the bedframe being inwardly of the slots 20 in the headboard, then the adapter unit 10 on the righthand side of the bed is switched with the adapter unit on the left side of the bedframe so that the hooks 66 are disposed at the outer edge of the adapter unit and frame as illustrated in FIG. 5. Thus, by comparison of FIGS. 4 and S, the switching of the adapter unit 10 will be noted and the degree of lateral adjustment which can be accomplished by the adapter unit 10 will also be noted thereby enabling a headboard having a particular lateral dimension between the slots 20 to be employed with various-size bedding, e.g., double-bed size and queen size, thereby overcoming several problems prevalent in the industry.

By employing the adapter unit, of the present invention, a furniture store-furniture dealer will be able to overcome any problems regardless of widths of all types of headboards inasmuch as the adapter unit enables all present conventional headboards which have a slot and pin and which have been manufactured for many years and are now being manufactured and are in use in homes all over the country to be employed with a metal bedframe whether for twin-size, full-size or queen-size bedding. This will enable the customer who is buying queen-size bedding to use his existing bed by merely adapting the queen-size frame to his headboard with the adapter unit 10.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An adapter unit for interconnecting a metal bedframe and a headboard comprising a substantially vertically disposed generally flat plate, having upwardly opening hook means projecting generally perpendicularly and laterally from one side edge thereof for attaching to the headboard, and a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal slots spaced from the side edge for receiving fastener elements for adjustably connecting the plate to a metal bedframe in a vertically and horizontally adjusted position thereby enabling variation in the position of the hook means for enabling the hook means to be connected with a headboard when the bedframe has been adjusted laterally to the standardized widths of bedding, said plate including lateral offset flanges peripherally thereof and disposed both above and below and to both lateral sides of the hook means for engaging a headboard and stabilizing the adapter unit in relation thereto.

2. A bedframe having transverse end attaching means, a headboard having a transverse pin disposed inwardly of a transverse external surface thereof generally parallel to the end attaching means and a vertical entrance slot providing access to said pin and an adapter engaged with the pin on the headboard which allows connection with a variable width bedframe, said adapter comprising a generally flat plate having planar surfaces generally paralleling the transverse end attaching means and the transverse external surface and a vertical side edge, upwardly opening hook means projecting from said side edge in detachable engagement with said pin, said plate including a plurality of vertically spaced transverse slots therein receiving connecting means vertically and horizontally adjustably connecting the plate to the end attaching means on the bedframe thereby connecting the headboard to the bedframe when the end attaching means on the bedframe is adjusted to a desired position within the range of the slots in the plate with the plates being switchable from one side of the bedframe to the other for orientation of the hook means on the inner edge or outer edge of the plate thereby increasing the range of adjustment of the end attaching means on the bedframe in relation to the slot and pin on the headboard which may be compensated for by the adapter, said plate including at least two stabilizing offset flanges on said plate disposed both above and below and to both lateral sides of the hook means defining surfaces engaging the headboard and stabilizing the adapter in relation thereto.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said connecting means includes nut and bolt fastening assemblies connecting said plate to said end attaching means, each nut of the assemblies having recessed edges receiving the edges of the slot for preventing rotation thereof.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said plate is generally rectangular and vertically elongated, said offset flanges extending along the top and bottom edges of the plate and along the side edge thereof having the hook means thereon, each of said flanges terminating along its free longitudinal edge in an outwardly extending flange member generally paralleling the plate for engaging t e external surface of the headboard. 

1. An adapter unit for interconnecting a metal bedframe and a headboard comprising a substantially vertically disposed generally flat plate, having upwardly opening hook means projecting generally perpendicularly and laterally from one side edge thereof for attaching to the headboard, and a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal slots spaced from the side edge for receiving fastener elements for adjustably connecting the plate to a metal bedframe in a vertically and horizontally adjusted position thereby enabling variation in the position of the hook means for enabling the hook means to be connected with a headboard when the bedframe has been adjusted laterally to the standardized widths of bedding, said plate including lateral offset flanges peripherally thereof and disposed both above and below and to both lateral sides of the hook means for engaging a headboard and stabilizing the adapter unit in relation thereto.
 2. A bedframe having transverse end attaching means, a headboard having a transverse pin disposed inwardly of a transverse external surface thereof generally parallel to the end attaching means and a vertical entrance slot providing access to said pin and an adapter engaged with the pin on the headboard which allows connection with a variable width bedframe, said adapter comprising a generally flat plate having planar surfaces generally paralleling the transverse end attaching means and the transverse external surface and a vertical side edge, upwardly opening hook means projecting from said side edge in detachable engagement with said pin, said plate including a plurality of vertically spaced transverse slots therein receiving connecting means vertically and horizontally adjustably connecting the plate to the end attaching means on the bedframe thereby connecting the headboard to the bedframe when the end attaching means on the bedframe is adjusted to a desired position within the range of the slots in the plate with the plates being switchable from one side of the bedframe to the other for orientation of the hook means on the inner edge or outer edge of the plate thereby increasing the range of adjustment of the end attaching means on the bedframe in relation to the slot and pin on the headboard which may be compensated for by the adapter, said plate including at least two stabilizing offset flanges on said plate disposed both above and below and to both lateral sides of the hook means defining surfaces engaging the headboard and stabilizing the adapter in relation thereto.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said connecting means includes nut and bolt fastening assemblies connecting said plate to said end attaching means, each nut of the assemblies having recessed edges receiving the edges of the slot for preventing rotation thereof.
 4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said plate is generally rectangular and vertically elongated, said offset flanges extending along the top and bottom edges of the plate and along the side edge thereof having the hook means thereon, each of said flanges terminating along its free longitudinal edge in an outwardly extending flange member generally paralleling the plate for engaging the external surface of the headboard. 